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You are here: Home » Food Preparation » Sourdough Pesto Pizza (sourdough discard recipe!)

Learn how to make your own sourdough starter... get it going in just 5 minutes! Click here to download FREE instructions!

Sourdough Pesto Pizza (sourdough discard recipe!)

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Homemade pizza night is the quickest (and easiest) it’s ever been with this sourdough pesto pizza! A “no wait” sourdough recipe using up sourdough discard, it’s flavorful, savory, and *sooo* easy. Simply top with fresh basil pesto, sliced tomatoes, and mozzarella… and dig in!

mini pizza on a plate topped with pesto, melted mozzarella, fresh tomato and basil. Text overlay says: "Sourdough Pesto Pizza (sourdough discard recipe!)"

Are you a pizza lover? Do you also have a taste for pesto?

This Sourdough Pesto Pizza is sure to satisfy both cravings in a healthy way!

Each summer, I cannot wait for my basil plants to grow to a point where I can harvest some leaves. Why?

For pesto, of course! Pesto is one of those savory flavors that is perfect for many summer side dishes, flatbreads, crackers, and… this pesto pizza!

small stainless steel bowl of pesto garnished with fresh basil

What Is Pesto?

Pesto is a savory condiment made from basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, and typically pine nuts. In this recipe, I used walnuts as the taste is comparable and they are cheaper than pine nuts.

I highly recommend purchasing a high-quality artisan Parmesan cheese that you grate yourself. The grated Parmesan cheese from Organic Valley is another excellent choice.

ingredients for making pesto in small stainless steel bowls: fresh basil, walnuts, Parmesan, and olive oil

How To Make Pesto

Pesto can easily be made ahead of time. It is best to use freshly-picked basil leaves.

Tedious as it may be, it is important to separate each leaf from the stems and stalks, as only the leaves are used for pesto. In a food processor, the basil leaves, walnuts, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese are ground up to create a fragrant paste.

If you have any leftovers, it freezes well, especially in ice cube trays (my favorite method). Once frozen, pop the pesto ice cubes into freezer bags and use in the winter!

Homemade pesto is a versatile condiment and is delicious in the following recipes (as well as the pesto pizza recipe, below!):

  • Toasted Pesto-Tomato Sandwich
  • Sprouted Spelt Crackers (easy & delicious snack!)
  • Einkorn Sourdough Chapatis {Indian Flatbread}

For nut-free folks, feel free to substitute the pesto recipe below with this nut-free version! You might also enjoy this unique variation calling for garlic scapes instead of fresh basil!

A pint mason jar filled with sourdough starter.

A “No-Wait” Sourdough Recipe… Using Sourdough Discard!

For this pesto pizza recipe, you’ll need a sourdough starter. Learn how to make your own with this easy tutorial!

Once you have your starter, the good news is that you don’t even have to wait to use it. In other words, this is a no-wait sourdough recipe that uses up sourdough discard!

Most true sourdough recipes call for a souring time — where you combine the starter, flour, and water… and wait. The souring stage is important to make sure the entirety of your flour is traditionally prepared for gentle digestion.

With recipes that use up leftover sourdough starter (also known as “discard”), you don’t have to wait for this souring time! Because the flour is already in the starter, and it’s already soured. 🙂

Basically, feed your starter as usual in the morning (making sure you have at least 1/2 cup, but up to several cups if you want to make several pizzas), and it’ll be ready to go by dinnertime. No extra mixing, souring, or waiting required.

(Pssst… check out four other no-wait sourdough recipes here!)

mini pizza in a cast iron skillet, topped with pesto, shredded mozzarella, and a fresh tomato slice

Homemade Pesto Pizza Making Tips And Tricks

Be sure to preheat your cast iron pan or pizza stone in the oven. This crucial step ensures proper baking of the pizza as well as making the pan non-stick.

I just grease my cast iron pans with a little avocado oil, stick in the oven (preheated at 400 degrees Fahrenheit) and let them preheat for about 10 minutes.

In this recipe, I usually use two cast iron pans to make two pizzas, which feed my family of 6. My cast iron pans are 10 inches and 12 inches in circumference.

If you are feeding a crowd, I recommend doubling or tripling this pesto pizza recipe.

slices of pesto pizza on a plate, garnished with fresh herbs and tomato

mini pizza on a plate topped with pesto, melted mozzarella, fresh tomato and basil
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Sourdough Pesto Pizza

Homemade pizza night is the quickest (and easiest) it's ever been with this sourdough pesto pizza! A "no wait" sourdough recipe using up sourdough discard, it's flavorful, savory, and *sooo* easy. Simply top with fresh basil pesto, sliced tomatoes, and mozzarella... and dig in!

Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Preheating Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 2 servings
Calories 602 kcal
Author Melissa Posey

Ingredients

For pesto:

  • 1-1/2 cups basil leaves washed and dried, stems removed
  • 1 to 2 cloves garlic medium-sized
  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese shredded or grated
  • 1/4 cup walnuts or pine nuts
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil (avocado oil will create a thinner texture, olive oil will create a thicker texture of pesto)

For sourdough pizza:

  • 1/2 to 1 cup sourdough starter fed that morning or around lunch time (use 1/2 cup to make a small, 10-inch pizza or 1 cup to make a medium 12-inch pizza)
  • 2-1/2 tablespoons pesto per pizza (very flexible, adjust amount to taste)
  • 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese
  • desired toppings fresh sliced tomatoes, pepperoni, basil leaves, etc.

Instructions

To make the pesto...

  1. In a food processor, pulse together garlic and walnuts until the texture resembles large crumbles.
  2. Add Parmesan cheese and basil leaves.
  3. Pulse again until basil leaves are chopped into small pieces.
  4. Turn food processor to high, and slowly add in the olive oil.
  5. Process until the pesto is a smooth texture with no visible large chunks. The finished pesto can now be used directly or stored in the fridge.

To make the pizza...

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. Grease a cast iron skillet (10-inch for small pizza, 12-inch for medium-sized pizza) with avocado oil or oil of choice.

  3. Place greased skillet in oven for 10 minutes to preheat.
  4. Once preheated, remove skillet.
  5. Pour sourdough starter directly into skillet.
  6. Tip the skillet to swirl the starter and create a circular pizza shape. Spread the starter out if necessary with a spoon or spatula. It doesn't have to be perfect, however. The sourdough starter will start to cook immediately as the pans are scorching hot.
  7. Immediately place the skillet back in the oven for an additional 10 minutes.
  8. Once 10 minutes are up, remove from oven.
  9. Spread a thin or thick (according to preference) layer of pesto over the sourdough pizza.
  10. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese generously over the pesto.
  11. Add other toppings such as tomato slices, additional fresh basil, or pepperoni, if desired.

  12. Place the pizza back in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted and golden brown.

  13. Cut into slices and enjoy!
  14. Store leftovers in the fridge.
Nutrition Facts
Sourdough Pesto Pizza
Amount Per Serving
Calories 602 Calories from Fat 432
% Daily Value*
Fat 48g74%
Saturated Fat 10g63%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 457mg20%
Potassium 82mg2%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 16g32%
Vitamin A 724IU14%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 329mg33%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Looking for other sourdough pizza recipes?

Middle Eastern pizza, topped with za'atar spice blend, feta, and fresh herbs

  • Sourdough Pizza Crust (thick or thin crust!)
  • Homemade Sourdough Mediterranean Pizza (with ancient wheat einkorn!)
  • Grilled Pizza! {sourdough einkorn} plus a QUICK video, too!
  • Gluten-Free Sourdough Pizza

What are your favorite pizza toppings?

We only recommend products and services we wholeheartedly endorse. This post may contain special links through which we earn a small commission if you make a purchase (though your price is the same).

Posted in: Breads, Muffins, & Crackers Condiments, Dips, & Spreads Fermenting & Culturing Food Preparation Main Dishes Recipes Sourdough

About Melissa Posey

Melissa is a Christ-seeking, garden-loving wife and mama to 4 young boys. Growing up on a small organic dairy farm, Melissa developed a love for cooking and wholesome ingredients from an early age. She and her husband enjoy homesteading as well as homeschooling their boys. When she isn’t in the kitchen, you can find her reading to her boys or happily pulling weeds in their large garden. You can follow Melissa along in her journey of motherhood, clean beauty, and nourishing recipe ideas on Instagram and Pinterest as @raisingknights_growingkale.

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photo collage of pesto and cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Sourdough Pesto Pizza (instant sourdough recipe!)"
photo collage of pesto and cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Sourdough Pesto Pizza (sourdough discard recipe!)"
photo collage of making pesto as well as slices of cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Homemade Pesto Pizza (instant sourdough recipe!)"
photo collage of pesto and cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Sourdough Homemade Pesto Pizza (sourdough discard recipe!)"
photo collage of pesto, sourdough starter, and cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Homemade Pesto Pizza (instant sourdough recipe!)"
cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Sourdough Pesto Pizza (sourdough discard recipe!)"
photo collage of sourdough starter and cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Sourdough Pesto Pizza (no yeast!)"
photo collage of pesto, sourdough starter, and cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Sourdough Homemade Pesto Pizza (instant sourdough recipe!)"
photo collage of pesto, sourdough starter, and cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Sourdough Pesto Pizza (sourdough discard recipe!)"
photo collage of pesto and cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Sourdough Pesto Pizza (no yeast!)"
cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Sourdough Pesto Pizza (no yeast!)"
cheesy, herbed pizza on a plate. Text overlay says: "Sourdough Pesto Pizza (sourdough discard recipe!)"

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